ARBOR DAY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 260, 1 August 1939, Page 8

ARBOR DAY

t The observance of Arbor Day goes back over a long period of years. Available records would indicate that official recognition was to the occasion as far back as 1892. In that year a Gazette of July 5 proclaimed Thursday, August 4, a public holiday in the Government offices throughout New Zealand for the celebration of Arbor Day. Community tree-planting without official recognitiow, no doubt, was in vogue before that date, possibly back into the 'eighties, to judge from occasional references. August 4, 189fe, was quite a big affair in Wellington. The Governor of that day, the Earl of Glasgow, presided.at tree-planting ceremonies on the Thorndon Esplanade, where some 500 citizens were congregated. There were also present Ac Premier (Mr. John Ballance) and the Mayor, Mr. F. H. D. Bell (lafer Sir Francis Bell), who remarked, in opening the proceedings, that there would be as little talk as possible, the idea being to concentrate on the business in hand, which was planting trees. There was also a band in attendance.

In subsequent years interest in the observance lapsed somewhat, though a fair amount of tree-planting was carried on under the auspices of Hie schools in co-operation with the local bodies. In recent years, however, it has been revived, and in a very real and practical sense Arbor Day has become a recognized national festival, and the focal point of many societies which have dedicated their fdeals and. efforts to the saving of what remains of New Zealand’s splendid indigenous flora, to the enrichment by systematic planting of this legacy for posterity, and to the beautification, of the landscape. The New Zealand people, through a long process of educative work, have become treeminded. They now realize that their arboreal treasures can only be conserved, and multiplied, by systematic effort. There remains yet to be done considerable educative work to check carelessness and vandalism, and the best reinforcement for this is the steady growth of public opinion in defence of the trees and the beauties of our wonderful landscape. • i Early letters from settlers published in the New Zealand Journal f-an English publication devoted to news of the emigrants—tell of the marvellous beauties of the luxuriant vegetation which encompassed Wellington Harbour, and the dense forest flora of the Hutt Valley. Axe and fire have destroyed the picture, but consistent effort from year to year may go some way to restore some of its charm. I his year’s contribution is to be made tomorrow. Apart from the official programme there is also the opportunity for the private citizen to hallow the day by doing a little tree-planting himself.